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House fire claims life of songwriter




A house fire on New Hope Road on Wednesday claimed the life of country music songwriter and producer Ray Pennington. Submitted

A house fire on New Hope Road on Wednesday claimed the life of country music songwriter and producer Ray Pennington. Submitted

A well-known Nashville songwriter has died in a house fire on New Hope Road north of Hendersonville, according to Shackle Island Volunteer Fire Department Chief Marty Bowers.

Bowers said that crews from several area fire departments responded after 1 p.m. on Wednesday to the home in the 2600 block of New Hope Road about two miles north of Long Hollow Pike.

The fire is believed to have been caused by a golf cart in the home’s garage, he added.

Bowers identified the male who died in the blaze as Ray Pennington, a well-known songwriter, singer and record producer. The fire chief said that Pennington’s wife escaped the fire unharmed.

Pennington, 86, wrote the hit song “I’m a Ramblin’ Man,” a song Waylon Jennings later took to Number 1.

“The Shackle Island Volunteer Fire Department, Hendersonville Fire Department and Millersville Fire department all worked for hours,” said Pennington’s daughter, Sharon. “They are heroes and we are very grateful for their enormous efforts.”

This is a developing story.

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